“Hershey used to smell like chocolate constantly,” remembers Drew Weidman, Editor-in-Chief of local paper The Sun. “The chocolate smell is no longer there, but the allure still is.” While the aroma of melted chocolate no longer lingers over “The Sweetest Place on Earth,” Hershey is a bustling town in the Pennsylvania countryside. It’s a tale of three towns in one. On one hand, it’s a tourism and entertainment center for Central Pennsylvania. On another, it’s a center of business and industry, with Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center — considered one of the top 50 hospitals in the country for neurology as well as orthopedics — bringing in top medical professionals from across the country. Yet for some, it’s a town that grew up around them, with farming families working fields that predate the chocolate empire. Much like a Reese’s Fast Break, these three very different ingredients come together to create something that is truly sweet — a proud, vibrant community.
Cocoa-driven activity
The impact of Hershey’s connected entertainment and amusement industry is hard to understate. Hersheypark Arena, the GIANT Center, Hershey Chocolate World, and Hersheypark itself bring millions of visitors through town annually. As Weidman points out, it’s a backbone of the town, providing incredible jobs and influx of business. However, potential residents will have to be ready to deal with traffic snarls and noise, with outdoor events, open-air concerts by national acts and roller coasters running from morning through night, along with regular fireworks shows.
Crowds will soon be flocking to Hershey's namesake park to enjoy rides and food.
Giant Arena is home to many events including the PIAA State Wrestling Championship.
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A different sort of kissing at midnight on New Year’s Eve
While there are a ton of events associated with the Hershey establishment, Weidman notes that Hershey is proud of much more than just being the home of Hershey’s chocolate. “There’s Choctoberfest in the fall, it’s a pretty big deal. New Year’s Eve celebration, they close down the square and raise a giant Hershey Kiss at midnight, there’s fireworks and entertainment.” Regular events in local parks, as well as the annual Memorial Day and Halloween Parade, bring the community together. Topping it all off, the Hershey Sweet Lights and Christmas Candylane make the holidays that much brighter. The town is also proud of their local sports teams, with the chocolate and white jerseys of the Hershey Bears being a common sight, particularly on game nights.
Seek out the local spots for a bite of history
It’s easy to dine and shop at the Tanger Outlets, or at the multitude of chain spots along Chocolate Avenue. But as Weidman points out, there are some hidden gems that hold a place in the hearts of locals. “Fenicci’s is a great little place,” says Weidman. “It’s the place I recommend for people who want to go the small-town Italian food route.” It’s the oldest freestanding restaurant in town, originally opening to feed the Italian immigrants that came to work at the Hershey plants. Customers can try the Deangelis Meatball Sub, named after the family that first opened the doors at the location in 1935. “The Penn Hotel is an awesome place, it used to be my local,” says Weidman, who used to live just down the road from it. The mellow sports bar is known serving up a gut-busting Sunday buffet, complete with fresh oysters. Hershey also has a vibrant craft brewing and distilling scene — aside from Troegs, one of the 25 largest craft breweries in the United States, smaller local spots like Hidden Still Spirits, YAH Brew, and an outpost of the regional Iron Hill chain offer food and drink options for the adventurous. For groceries, residents have multiple options including Giant and Karn’s, while big box retailers are concentrated in the Outlets as well as to the west of town.
Quizzo Night at Yah Brew is a non-touristy, local favorite in Hershey.
Many tourists visit Hershey but the locals know that The Penn Hotel is the place for oysters.
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Incredible housing variety
Weidman mentions that there is a notable difference in housing around Hershey. “There’s the village, versus the township. The village has a suburban feel to it, but outside of the village there’s still farming, it’s rural.” It’s no exaggeration — farmers toil in their fields a mile north of roller coasters and rock stars. The village itself is a mixture, Weidman points out. “There are a lot of homes that are still standing that were constructed for Hershey’s original workers, they’re the essence of town. Some are older and interesting, neat but not modern. Others are enormous homes on postage stamp properties, built for the management of the chocolate factories and the other entities.” Beyond that, newer subdivisions and apartment and townhome complexes have been added to the mix. This puts houses in an expanse of ranges, with million-dollar custom homes sitting a block from modestly priced split-levels. Generally, manufactured homes, condos, and older duplexes can be found in the $150,000 to $250,000 range, while brick ramblers and small Cape Cods on modest properties fetch from $250,000 to $400,000. Larger versions — over 2,000 square feet of space — and modern custom builds sell in the $400,000 to $700,000 range, while unique historic estates often sell for $1 million and above.
These classic craftsman homes are finished in different colors to show off their owners' tastes.
Hershey is home to many grand houses; some new and some built to look that way.
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A Top Ten school district
“We’ve got a great school system,” Wiedman says. Niche rates Derry Township School District as the ninth best school district in the entire state. Elementary school is split into three groupings within the same school — Hershey Early Childhood Center for kindergarten and first grade, Hershey Primary Elementary for second and third grade, and Hershey Intermediate Elementary for fourth and fifth grade. The former gets an A-minus from Niche, the other two get an A grade. Hershey Middle School and Hershey High School both earn A-plus grades. The high school maintains a top-tier boys soccer program, winning numerous championships. The Milton Hershey School, a private boarding school, sits in eastern Hershey, and is a cost-free school continuously funded by a trust developed by Milton and Catherine Hershey before his death.
Older students attend the Hershey High School in Palmdale.
Local students attend the Hershey Middle School in Palmdale.
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Derry Township Parks provide great green spaces
While Hersheypark is certainly a park, residents are more likely to spend their free time at the Derry Township Parks and Recreation complex with its baseball fields, pickleball and tennis courts, a competition lap pool, indoor and outdoor pools, a gym, a senior center, and the Cocoa Castle playground. Founders Park, just down the road, has baseball and softball fields as well as soccer fields, and hosts Little Leagues and tournaments. Eight other parks offer something for everyone — from fishing and boating on the Swatara Creek to music and activities in Chocolate Town Park. As if that’s not enough, golfers can swing away at one of three golf courses at Hershey Country Club, while the Hershey Racquet Club features eight indoor tennis courts.
Kids can have hours of fun at Cocoa Castle at Derry Township Parks.
Located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, Alumni Memorial Grove Park covers an area of 20 acres.
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A car is a must-have in Hershey
Residents in Hershey will be car dependent, with very limited public transit, while biking and walking is really only useful for recreation. Harrisburg International Airport, offering commercial flights to 17 cities, is an 11-mile drive from town. Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, which is right in Hershey, provides 24-hour emergency care and is central Pennsylvania’s only Level I Trauma Center for both children and adults.
Hershey is just a short ride from Harrisburg International Airport.
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center is a state-of-the-art healthcare facility.
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